Toothbrush



May'zl, 1935. F. A. JONES 2,002,320

TOOTHBRUSH Filled May 5, 1934 IN V EN TOR.'

A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT orties 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved toothbrush, and more particularly to that type of toothbrush wherein the bristle-carrying member is adjustable with relation to the handle, thus making it possible to apply the brush to the teeth in a more ecient manner.

An object or" the invention is to simplify in certain particulars the means whereby the head or bristle-carrying element I" the device is rendered adjustable to diierent positions with relation to the handle and whereby it is held with sufficient firmness in the various adjusted positions to insure that it will operate satisfactorily while the teeth are being brushed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more nearly frictionless connection between the handle oi the brush and the bristle-carrying member, thus rendering these parts more readily adjustable relative to each other and at the same time increasing the durability of the brush as a whole.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention may hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the complete brush with parts thereof shown in vertical longitudinal mid-section. Y

Fig. 2 is a back plan View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental transverse section illustrating on an enlarged scale the operating connection between the head and handle of the brush, taken on line 3--3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a partly sectional and partly elevational view on the same scale as Fig. 3, illustrating further the operative connection between the handle and head of the brush.

Fig. 5 is a modified form of Fig. 4.

Fig. Gis a sectional detail, illustrating diagrammatically the adaptability of the clamping member to brush heads of different sizes.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the brush head 5 is furnished with a body portion 6, a bristle portion 1, an attaching head or swivel member 8 and a fastening means 9 whereby said head 8 is secured to the brush body 6.

The handle It has a shank portion II which connects the handle proper l2 with the expanded portion i3 which forms a part of the Swivel connection. Said expanded part I3 has a circular bearing aperture I4 therethrough or bearing recess therein, within which is turnably mounted the swivel member 8. As seen in plan said member 8 is of a generally circular form. However, it

is furnished with a plurality of recesses I5 cut into its periphery, said recesses being of a rounded character in order to suit them for cooperation with a spring pressed plunger rod IE, the adjacent end of which is also rounded.

Around the circular head 8 extends a groove 8x which, as shown in Fig. e is of a rounded character as viewed in cross-section, the groove being thus adapted to cooperate well with the rounded end portion of the rod ESL The depths of the recesses l5 are equal, and the groove is of less depth than said recesses. Therefore the spring-pressed plunger rod i6 normally locks the whole brush head to the handle member in the various relative rotational positions of said head to the handle. Said rod l is slidably mounted in a bore il extending longitudinally of the handle lil drilled thereinto from its brushcarrying end, and is normally held in its operative position by means of a compression spring I8 which, as viewed in the drawing, abuts against the left end of the plunger I3. Said rod may have a laterally directed portion i9 which projects through a short slot 2t in the extension of the shank of the handle, and cover member 2l is in turn secured to the portion i9, to close the slot 2l), slidably with the rod i6. The slot 20 communicates with the bore Il. The ends of said slot constitute stop means to limit the travel of the offset portion i9 of the slidable rod I6.

The part I9 is screwed laterally into the rod i6 after the latter has been inserted through the brush-carrying end of the handle. The opposite end portion of the handle is desirably curved as shown to give it a more graceful appearance. The bore l' occupies the straight part of the handle. In all the embodiments of the invention shown the brush proper may be quickly and easily removed and replaced after the rod l has been retracted against the opposition of the spring i3 to disengage said rod from the grooved portion of the brush proper. The parts which are inserted into the mouth may then be separated and completely cleansed.

As shown in Fig. 4 the brush body has a recess 22 with overhanging walls, and the part 23 of said brush body which is outside of said recess is internally engaged by the resilient sectional iiange 24 of the sheet metal clamp member 26. Between the sections of this flange are the slits or slots 21. The head 8 is welded or otherwise secured to the back of said clamp member.

In Fig. 5 the head 8e is formed in one piece with the sheet metal clamping member.

In both forms of the sheet metal clamping member, the flange 24 thereof is reversely beveled as indicated at 23 and 29, thus adapting the clamping iange 24 to grip the small brush head 30 inwardly or to hold the brush body 6 by outward pressure thereagainst.

I claim:

1. In combination, a handle member having a bearing aperture or recess therein, a brush head having a cylindrical grooved portion which turnably engages said aperture or recess, and a spring pressed plunger carried by said handle to operatively engage said groove of said head and thereby releasably secure said head to said handle member, said groove having seats therein to cooperate with said plunger.

2. A brush of the class described comprising a handle member having a bearing aperture extending transversely through one of its end portions and having a longitudinal bore extending into said handle member from said bearing aperture, a brush member having a head which is turnably tted Within said bearing aperture, said head having a circumferential groove with spaced seats therein, and a spring pressed rod in said bore having an end portion engageable with said seats to hold said head in rotationally adjusted positions, the end portion of said rod during operation remaining in said groove to retain ksaid head within said bearing aperture.

3. A brush of the class described rh aving a handle member carrying a spring-pressed rod, and

'a brush head capable of rotational adjustment mounted upon said handle member, said brush head having a groove with seats operatively engaged by said rod to prevent its undesired detachment from said handle member, said rod being manually Withdravvable from said groove.

FRED A. JONES. 

